Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1887-01-10
INDIANS AS GAMBLERS.
Ihe Hand Game of the Shoshones an
Ran LIZ

Ihe Hand Game of the Shoshones and
Bannocks-Hovv 1t Is Played.
The Shoshones and Bannoeks on thu
Shoshone reservation in Idaho have, like
most Indians, fondness for gambling. Tt
an observer the Eshand game" so common
among these Indians would seem more lik,
bling, for no matter how interesting tht
game may be good humor invariably pre-
walls. A party of Shoshones and Bannocks
were encamped near the station one after
noon, five of whom-two men and three
squaws-were deeply engrossed in the 'shand
game" After half an hours close atten-
tion I managed to obtain fair idea of the
game. The two men were partners and sal
facing their opponents, the three squaws
In front of each of the opposing sides was
a pile of twenty small sticks, to be used
as Counters" and in the center of the
space intervening was the money, some
three or fonr dollars. Two well polished
pieces of convex-shaped bone as large as
lead pencil in the largest part, and posi-
bly, three inches in length, well wrapped
with cord or sinew for an inch or more in
the center and two pieces of the same di-
mensions unwrapped or presenting the
Willie Ouly, COIStItuboO Cu6 gam
bling outfit.
Two of the three squaws grasped a
wrapped and upwrapped bone, one in each
hand, and together with the third squaw be-
gan moving their hands rapidly from side to
side, describing half circle and accompany
ing the motion with a peculiar nasal hum
ming. The men were now all attention, it
being their duty it seems to guess which
hand of either the three squaws contained
the white bone. Whenever the guesser lost
one stick from his joint pile of twenty it was
transferred to the pile in front of the squaws,
and when he won the bones, together with
one of the sticks, Immediately passed into
his possession. As soon rs his partner was
equally successful it became the mems turn
to hold the bones. The actions of the two
men now were slightly dissmilar to those
gone through by the three squaws. The
bones were held one in each hand as had
been done by their opponents, but instead of
swinging the hands back and forth they
were placed under the arms, accompanied by
up and down motion of the body and the
same peculiar humming. When a squaw
made an unlucky guess she would pay the
usual forfeit, and the man by a dexterous
movement would throw both bones a short
distance in the air, showing which hand held
the corded and which the plain bone. When
changing the bones from hand to hand be-
meath the folds of his blanket or behind his
back, his manHuvers were continued until
the bones passed out of his possession.
And SO the game progressed, first one side
holding the bones and then the other. Az
the bones were changed from hand to hand
beneath the blanket or behind the back, no
effort being made to cheat, and a lucky
guesser being the only requirement of sue
cessful player. the games were always of in
finite duration, this one in particular lasting
several hours. l was unable to find out pre-
cisely what part the third squaw took in the
game, for at no time did discover the bones
i'll her possession, but the hands of each
of the three squaws were held close together
and in the swaying motion often came in
close proximity to those of the squaw sitting
next, it is probable that the third squaw was
used to mislead the men, who it would ap-
pear were regarded as the more skillful play
ers.